Vacuum Storage Container

ABSTRACT

A vacuum storage container includes a container body and a lid with a silicone ring operably positioned therebetween. A cavity is disposed in the lid, the cavity being sized and shaped to receive a vacuum device therein. A central through hole is provided in the cavity which enables air to enter and exit the container body. A silicone sealing plug is set inside the central through hole. The sealing plug body runs through the central through hole, an upper end of the lid is connected to the sealing plug top, and a lower end of the lid is connected to the sealing plug bottom. When the vacuum device is in operation, the silicone sealing plug is moved to the open state, so that air inside the vacuum storage container passes through first and second circumferential clearances, and between the lower end of the sealing plug top and the upper end of the lid, to discharge out of the vacuum storage container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to storage containers, in particular to a vacuum storage container.

Description of Related Art

At present, the mechanical suction type storage containers on the market adopt an independent separate suction pump barrel structure. The pumping barrel and the storage container lid are separated, which is cumbersome to operate; alternatives include: an electric suction structure integrated in the lid, which has a high failure rate, is not energy-efficient and depends on electricity; partly hand-operated vacuum containers, but the pressing block is flush with the container lid, which is quite inconvenient to operate, and its structure is complicated; and the air release vent is a flip-flop structure, which is inconvenient to operate. Moreover, existing products cannot reliably retain or lock in the desired degree of the internal vacuum. After the vacuum is attained, there is no secondary locking structure, hence it easily leaks, thus losing the benefits of the vacuum. When storing powdery goods (milk powder, meat floss, etc.) and liquid food, dust or fluids can easily enter the suction and the venting structures, causing blockage, smudge and contamination.

The solution presented in the present application improves the existing vacuum storage container with respect to the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior design, the present utility model provides a vacuum storage container, which features a rational structure, low cost, convenient operation, and can easily achieve air extraction, sealing and venting.

In order to achieve the purpose of the above utility model, the technical solutions adopted to solve the technical problems are as follows:

A vacuum storage container, used in conjunction with a vacuum device, characterized in that it comprises container body, lid, silicone ring, silicone sealing plug and vacuum release button, wherein:

said lid tightly covers and engages with said container body, and a containing cavity for placing said vacuum device is provided on said lid; said containing cavity bottom has a central through hole, which is used to provide a channel for air to enter and exit said container body; said silicone ring is set at the engaging joint of said lid and the container body; said silicone sealing plug is set inside said central through hole, comprising sealing plug body, sealing plug top and sealing plug bottom.

Wherein said sealing plug body runs through said central through hole, the upper end is fixedly connected to said sealing plug top, and the lower end is fixedly connected to said sealing plug bottom. The first circumferential clearance is formed between the outer wall of said sealing plug body and the inner wall of said central through hole;

said sealing plug top is horizontally set above said central through hole, and partly on the upper end of the lid of said containing cavity bottom; said sealing plug bottom is arranged horizontally below said central through hole, and partly at the lower end of the lid of said containing cavity bottom. The second circumferential clearance is formed between the lower end of the lid of said containing cavity bottom and the upper end of said sealing plug bottom, and said second circumferential clearance and first circumferential clearance are connected; the lower end of said vacuum release button abuts said silicone sealing plug and is used to move said silicone sealing plug from its closed state at the first position in vertical direction to its open state, i.e., the second position when said vacuum release button is pressed.

When said vacuum device is in operation, said silicone sealing plug is in the second position, the open state, and the air inside the vacuum storage container passes through said second circumferential clearance, first circumferential clearance, and between the lower end of the sealing plug top and the upper end of the lid to discharge out of the vacuum storage container, until the air inside the vacuum storage container is evacuated to a certain degree of vacuum, and the lower end of said sealing plug top abuts the upper end of said lid, thereby keeping the vacuum storage container in a vacuum state;

when said vacuum storage container is reflated, said silicone sealing plug is in the first position, the closed state, when said vacuum release button is pressed, said silicone sealing plug moves down, turning the surrounding edges of said sealing plug top upward, and the external air passes through said sealing plug top, the gap between the lower end of the plug and the upper end of the lid, the first circumferential clearance and the second circumferential clearance to enter the vacuum storage container, so that the internal and external pressures of the vacuum storage container are the same, thus allowing the container to be opened.

Furthermore, said silicone sealing plug further includes a plurality of connecting bars, and a plurality of said connecting bars are arranged on the lower end surface of said sealing plug top, and said outer wall of the sealing plug body extends to the peripheral edge of said sealing plug top, and the gap between each said connecting bar forms an airway for the external air to pass through said vacuum storage container; when said vacuum storage container is opened, the air passes successively through the airway, the first circumferential clearance and the second circumferential clearance to enter the vacuum storage container.

Furthermore, each of said connecting bar is provided with a butting part, and said butting part abuts the upper end of the lid of said containing cavity bottom.

Furthermore, said silicone sealing plug is also provided with a groove, and said groove is opened at the center of said sealing plug top, penetrates through said sealing plug body, and extend to the upper end of said sealing plug bottom.

Furthermore, the lower extension of said vacuum release button is convex, said lower extension extends into said groove and abuts the bottom of said groove, and abuts said sealing plug top around the upper circumference of said groove.

Furthermore, said vacuum storage container also comprises a cap, said cap is set under said silicone sealing plug, and said cap can be engaged and connected with the containing cavity of said lid to cover said silicone sealing plug and protect the silicone sealing plug from dust and other particles.

Furthermore, a third circumferential clearance is provided between the side of said vacuum release button and the inner wall of said containing cavity, and said third circumferential clearance gradually widens along the bottom of said containing cavity toward the upper surface of said lid.

Compared with existing designs, the utility model has the following advantages and positive effects due to the above technical scheme:

The vacuum storage container discloses a simple and convenient air extraction, air sealing and air release structure; the air in the vacuum storage container is extracted by a vacuum device, so that the vacuum storage container is in a negative pressure state. When the vacuum device is removed, the vacuum storage container can be air-tight for a long time. Through the simple cooperation between the vacuum release button and the silicone sealing plug, the pumping, sealing and venting actions of the storage container can be easily realized. It has features of simple structure, rational design, low cost, convenient operation, and good effects regarding to air extraction, air-tightness, and venting.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the following will briefly describe the drawings that need to be used in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only examples of the possible embodiments of the present utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative works. In the attached drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a vacuum storage container of the present utility model;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the combined use of a vacuum storage container and a vacuum device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the overall decomposition structure diagram of a vacuum storage container of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a top plan view of the vacuum storage container of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 4B is a cross-section diagram of a vacuum storage container taken at lines A-A in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic diagram of the silicon sealing plug structure in the vacuum storage container of FIG. 4B, taken at section B;

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the silicone sealing plug in the vacuum storage container;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of air extraction for the vacuum storage container; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of venting for the vacuum storage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a clear and complete description and discussion of the technical solutions in this utility model patent embodiment in conjunction with the drawings of this utility model patent. Obviously, what is described here are only examples of embodiment of this utility model patent, not all possible embodiments. Based on the embodiment in this utility model patent, all other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art without creative work shall fall within the protection scope of this utility model patent.

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, this embodiment discloses a vacuum storage container, which may be used in conjunction with vacuum device 1, and includes container body 2, lid 3, silicone ring 4, silicone sealing plug 5 and vacuum release button 6, wherein:

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 3 covers and engages with the container body 2, and there is a containing cavity 7 on which the vacuum device 1 is placed (as shown in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 1, the containing cavity 7 may be set in the center of the lid 3 to accommodate the silicone sealing plug 5 (shown in FIG. 3), and the vacuum release button 6. The silicone sealing plug 5 is usually combined in lid 3 of the vacuum storage container. However, in alternative embodiment, these elements may be placed in other locations without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, both the container body 2 and lid 3 are basically rectangular in shape, and more specifically of a square shape. In an alternative embodiment, the container body 2 and lid 3 may be shaped into elongated rectangles, circles, ellipses, or other predictable shapes.

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, a central through hole 8, best shown in FIG. 8, opens at the bottom of the containing cavity 7 to provide a passage for air to enter and exit the interior of the container body 2; the containing cavity 7 is a downwardly extending part of the lid 3 to form a cavity or recess in the direction of the container body 2. In this embodiment, the containing cavity 7 can take various shapes and sizes, and can also be round, so that the silicone sealing plug 5 can be firmly positioned and located in the containing cavity 7.

The silicone ring 4 is set at the joint of the lid 3 and the container body 2 to seal the container when the lid is placed thereupon.

The silicone sealing plug 5 is set in the central through hole 8. When the silicone sealing plug 5 is fixed in the central through hole 8, the silicone sealing plug 5 will not fall into container body 2 through central through hole 8. Preferably, the silicone sealing plug 5 is made of soft silicone material or other materials capable of sealing gas, but not limited to silicone. The silicone sealing plug 5 includes sealing plug body 9, positioned on sealing plug top 10 and sealing plug bottom 11.

The sealing plug body 9 runs through the central through hole 8, and its upper end is fixedly connected with the sealing plug top 10, and the lower end is fixedly connected with the sealing plug bottom 11. The first circumferential clearance 12 is formed between the outer wall of the sealing plug body 9 and the inner wall of the central through hole 8.

The sealing plug top 10 is horizontally arranged above the central through hole 8, and part of it is located at the upper end of lid 3 at the bottom of the containing cavity 7.

The sealing plug bottom 11 is arranged laterally below the central through hole 8, and partly at the lower end of lid 3 at the bottom of the containing cavity 7. The lower end of lid 3 at the bottom of the containing cavity 7 and the upper end of the sealing plug bottom 11 form a second circumferential clearance 13 in between, and the second circumferential clearance 13 and the first circumferential clearance 12 are connected.

The lower end of the vacuum release button 6 abuts the silicone sealing plug 5, and is used to make the silicone sealing plug 5 in the first position, the closed state, to move along the vertical direction when the vacuum release button 6 is pressed, down to the second position, which is the open state.

When the vacuum device 1 is in operation, the silicon sealing plug 5 is in the second position, the open state, and the air inside the vacuum storage container is discharged to the outside of the vacuum storage container through the gap between the lower end of the second circumferential clearance 13, the first circumferential clearance 12, and the sealing plug top and the upper end of lid 3, successively, until the air inside the vacuum storage container has been discharged and a certain degree of vacuum is reached. The lower end of the sealing plug top 10 abuts against the upper end of the lid 3, thereby keeping the vacuum storage container in a vacuum state; when the vacuum storage container reaches a certain degree of vacuum, after the removal of the vacuum device 1, the silicone sealing plug 5 is sucked by the negative pressure of vacuum inside the storage container and closes the central through hole 8, so as to achieve the purpose of airtight sealing.

To fill the vacuum storage container with air, the silicone sealing plug 5 is initially in the first position, the closed state. By pressing the vacuum release button 6, the silicon sealing plug 5 moves down which simultaneously lifts the four peripheral edges of the sealing plug top 10 upward, and the external air passes through the lower end of the sealing plug top 10 and lid 3, the gap between the upper ends, the first circumferential clearance 12, and the second circumferential clearance 13, successively, to enter the vacuum storage container, until the internal and external pressures of the vacuum storage container are the same, thus the container can be opened.

Referencing FIG. 6, the silicone sealing plug 5 also comprises a number of connecting bars 14, and a number of the connecting bars 14 are arranged on the lower end surface of the sealing plug top 10, and extend from the outer side wall of the sealing plug body 9 to the peripheral edges of the sealing plug top 10, and the gap between the connecting bars 14 forms an airway 15, which allows the external air to pass through the airway 15, first circumferential clearance 12, and second circumferential clearance 13 to enter the vacuum storage container when the vacuum storage container vents. In this embodiment, each of the connecting bar 14 is provided with a butting part 16, the butting part 16 abuts the upper end of the lid 3 at the bottom of the containing cavity 7.

Furthermore, the silicone sealing plug 5 is also provided with a groove 17, which is formed in the center of the sealing plug top 10, runs through the sealing plug body 9, and extends to the upper end of the sealing plug bottom 11. Correspondingly, the lower extension part of the vacuum release button 6 is convex. The lower extension protrudes into the groove 17 and abuts the bottom of the groove 17, and with the sealing plug top 10 near the top of the groove 17.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, the silicone sealing plug 5 has an inverted X-shaped cross section. Preferably, the sealing plug body 9, the sealing plug top 10 and the sealing plug bottom 11 are made of one integral piece.

Furthermore, a third circumferential clearance 19 is provided between the side of the vacuum release button 6 and the inner wall of the containing cavity 7. Preferably, the third circumferential clearance 19 runs along the bottom of the containing cavity 7 and gradually widens towards the upper surface of the lid 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

Referring to FIG. 3, the vacuum storage container also includes a cap 18, which is set under the silicone sealing plug 5. The cap 18 can be connected with the containing cavity 7 of the lid 3 to cover the silicone sealing plug 5 and protect the silicone sealing plug 5 from dust and other particles, and to prevent vacuum leakage or the central through hole 8 from being blocked. If dust, particles and/or other debris frequently come into contact with various components of the silicone sealing plug 5 or block the central through hole 8, the silicone sealing plug 5 may be damaged and the efficiency becomes compromised over time. In this embodiment, the cap 18 is not a necessary part of the vacuum storage container.

The embodiments above are only preferred or better examples of embodiments of this utility model patent, but the protection scope of this utility model patent is not limited to these. Any change, replacement or substitution that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model patent shall be covered by the protection scope of this utility model patent. Therefore, the protection scope of the utility model patent shall be regarded as the protection scope of the claims.

As used in this application, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. The terms “approximately” and “about” are defined to mean+/−10%, unless otherwise stated. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the terminology used in the specification provided above is hereby defined to include similar and/or equivalent terms, and/or alternative embodiments that would be considered obvious to one skilled in the art given the teachings of the present patent application. While the invention has been described with reference to at least one particular embodiment, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments, but rather the scope of the invention is defined by claims made to the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vacuum storage container used in conjunction with a vacuum device, the vacuum storage container comprising: a container body; a lid which is sized and shaped to tightly cover and close the container body; a silicone ring operably positioned between the lid and the container body; a cavity disposed in the lid, the cavity being sized and shaped to receive the vacuum device therein; a central through hole is provided in the cavity which enables air to enter and exit the container body; a silicone sealing plug set inside the central through hole, the silicone sealing plug comprising a sealing plug body, a sealing plug top, and a sealing plug bottom, wherein the sealing plug body runs through the central through hole, an upper end of the lid is connected to the sealing plug top, and a lower end of the lid is connected to the sealing plug bottom; a first circumferential clearance formed between the outer wall of the sealing plug body and the inner wall of the central through hole; wherein the sealing plug top is horizontally set above the central through hole, and partly on the upper end of the lid of the containing cavity bottom; wherein the sealing plug bottom is arranged horizontally below the central through hole, and partly at the lower end of the lid of the containing cavity bottom; a second circumferential clearance formed between the lower end of the lid of the containing cavity bottom and the upper end of the sealing plug bottom, and the second circumferential clearance and first circumferential clearance are connected; wherein the lower end of the vacuum release button abuts the silicone sealing plug and is adapted to move the silicone sealing plug from a closed state, in a vertical direction, to an open state, when the vacuum release button is pressed; and wherein when the vacuum device is in operation, the silicone sealing plug is moved to the open state, so that air inside the vacuum storage container passes through the second circumferential clearance, first circumferential clearance, and between the lower end of the sealing plug top and the upper end of the lid to discharge out of the vacuum storage container, until the inside of the vacuum storage container has reached a certain degree of vacuum, following which the lower end of the sealing plug top abuts the upper end of the lid, thereby keeping the vacuum storage container in a vacuum state.
 2. The vacuum storage container according to claim 1, wherein when the vacuum release button is pressed, the silicone sealing plug moves down, turning the surrounding edges of the sealing plug top upward, and the external air passes through the sealing plug top, the gap between the lower end of the plug and the upper end of the lid, the first circumferential clearance and the second circumferential clearance to enter the vacuum storage container, until the internal and external pressures of the vacuum storage container are the same, thus allowing the container to be opened.
 3. The vacuum storage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the silicone sealing plug further comprises multiple connecting bars, and more than one of the connecting bars are arranged on the lower end surface of the sealing plug top, and the outer wall of the sealing plug body extends to the peripheral edge of the sealing plug top, and the gap between each the connecting bar forms an airway for the external air to pass through the vacuum storage container; when the vacuum storage container is going to be opened, the air passes successively through the airway, the first circumferential clearance and the second circumferential clearance to enter the vacuum storage container.
 4. The vacuum storage container according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the connecting bar is provided with a butting part, and the butting part abuts the upper end of the lid of the containing cavity bottom.
 5. The vacuum storage container according to claim 3, wherein the silicone sealing plug is also provided with a groove, and the groove is opened at the center of the sealing plug top, penetrates through the sealing plug body, and extends to the upper end of the sealing plug bottom.
 6. The vacuum storage container according to claim 5, which is characterized in that the lower extension of the vacuum release button is convex, the lower extension extends into the groove and abuts the bottom of the groove, and abuts the sealing plug top around the upper circumference of the groove.
 7. The vacuum storage container of according to claim 1, which is characterized in that the vacuum storage container also includes a cap, the cap is set under the silicone sealing plug, and the cap can be engaged and connected with the containing cavity of the lid to cover the silicone sealing plug and protect the silicone sealing plug from dust and other particles.
 8. The vacuum storage container according to claim 1, wherein a third circumferential clearance is provided between the side of the vacuum release button and the inner wall of the containing cavity, and the third circumferential clearance gradually widens along the bottom of the containing cavity toward the upper surface of the lid.
 9. A vacuum storage container used in conjunction with a vacuum device, the vacuum storage container comprising: a container body; a lid which is sized and shaped to tightly cover and close the container body; a silicone ring operably positioned between the lid and the container body; a cavity disposed in the lid, the cavity being sized and shaped to receive the vacuum device therein; a central through hole is provided in the cavity which enables air to enter and exit the container body; a silicone sealing plug set inside the central through hole, the silicone sealing plug comprising a sealing plug body, a sealing plug top, and a sealing plug bottom, wherein the sealing plug body runs through the central through hole, an upper end of the lid is connected to the sealing plug top, and a lower end of the lid is connected to the sealing plug bottom; a first circumferential clearance formed between the outer wall of the sealing plug body and the inner wall of the central through hole; wherein the sealing plug top is horizontally set above the central through hole, and partly on the upper end of the lid of the containing cavity bottom; a second circumferential clearance formed between the lower end of the lid of the containing cavity bottom and the upper end of the sealing plug bottom, and the second circumferential clearance and first circumferential clearance are connected; wherein the lower end of the vacuum release button abuts the silicone sealing plug and is adapted to move the silicone sealing plug from a closed state, to an open state, when the vacuum release button is pressed; and wherein when the vacuum device is in operation, the silicone sealing plug is moved to the open state, so that air inside the vacuum storage container passes through the second circumferential clearance, first circumferential clearance, and between the lower end of the sealing plug top and the upper end of the lid to discharge out of the vacuum storage container. 